Objectives: This paper seeks to explore the potential value of qigong and t'ai chi practice as a therapeutic intervention to aid in the treatment of survivors of torture and refugee trauma. Design: The common effects of torture and refugee trauma are surveyed with a focus on post-traumatic stress disorder. An alternative theoretical framework for conceptualizing and healing trauma is presented. Evidence is reviewed from the scientific literature that describes how qigong and t'ai chi have been used in studies of the general population to alleviate symptoms that are also expressed in torture survivors. Observations are presented from a combined, simplified qigong and t'ai chi intervention with a convenience sample of four refugee survivors of torture. Results: Preliminary observations from four cases and a review of the literature support the potential efficacy of incorporating qigong and t'ai chi into the treatment of survivors of torture and refugee trauma. Conclusions: The incorporation of qigong and t'ai chi into the treatment of torture survivors, within a new framework for healing trauma, merits further investigation. © 2008 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 2008.

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Tibet training Chinese refugee healing mental health human Refugees middle aged injury Survivors Activities of Daily Living pain priority journal morbidity Congo torture survivor Self Efficacy psychotherapy quality of life Lebanon Humans Treatment Outcome sleep disorder male Severity of Illness Index female cognition Breathing Exercises Review population research Tai Chi Tai Ji emotion adult posttraumatic stress disorder Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Byelarus health survey